The theme of the work I do is “Relationship is the Key to Everything.” Our lives are the most satisfying when we are fully related to the people in them, no exceptions. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they are all the same.

What I am saying is that I have no issues with the person in question. I am not saying the relationship is “okay.” That is code for I have lost interest in making any attempt at having it be anything else. I have given up. Leadership is a commitment to the greatness of the people around us not thwarted by their failings.

Please know that I am not talking about “like” or “dislike.” That will vary with different circumstances and personalities. What doesn’t waver is your commitment to them being great. Acceptance of who they are and who they are not. Refusing to get caught up in their “stuff” and working with their strengths. All your relationships will have failures. Learn from them and get on down the road. What works is what I call 100%-0%.

In other words, my commitment is focused on what I need to bring to the relationship. Honor and respect who they are not who they are not. If they struggle, love them anyway. If you react poorly to something they did, apologize. Take responsibility for everything. You can’t do anything about anything else anyway. Don’t give up on them.

You might want to look at who you have given up on already. We never  have too many relationships that work. And, we have too many that we have given up on. We have allowed our circumstances to cause separation from people that we love and respect. Most of the time we have not taken responsibility for watering the tree. The tree takes a long time to die. A little water has it recover.

Don’t forget …

There’s plenty more to learn from the Coaching Bookstore. Give it a look and you may find a training manual for your championship team.